AT&T takes another step towards the global IOT dream

AT&T has signed a partnership agreement with Canadian telco Rogers, to extend LTE-M coverage for IoT customers of both companies, throughout Canada and the US.

Rogers IoT customers will now have the ability to roam on the AT&T LTE-M network, with the same privilege being offered the other direction. With AT&T relying heavily on IOT to drive new engagement with enterprise customers, this is another example of the US telco spreading its wings across the globe.

“More and more of our enterprise customers are launching IoT applications across international boundaries,” said Chris Penrose, President of Advanced Mobility and Enterprise Solutions at AT&T.

“Having access to the Rogers LTE-M network across Canada will help them simplify deployments and scale their North American IoT plans.”

The emerging IOT world is one which offers a huge amount of promise for the ambitious AT&T team. In a briefing at Mobile World Congress this year, AT&T told us the opportunity was not only from connectivity, but to move up the value-chain and create platforms and customisable software solutions for enterprise.

There are of course multiple elements to ensure this dream can be realised, however a network which reaches beyond the borders of the US is critical. The IOT business can survive in a single country, but if you want to work with the big boys you have to be able to offer a network which meets the demands of an international business.

With the Rogers partnership, the trio in Canada has been completed. AT&T has a network in Mexico and also a significant partnership in Europe. The European collaboration offers AT&T access to KPN’s LTE-M network in the Netherlands, Swisscom’s in Switzerland and Orange’s in France and Romania. The European operators also gain exposure on AT&T’s networks in the US and Mexico.

With these partnerships in place in Europe, AT&T can expect to cover a significant proportion of the continent, though there are still some significant holes. Orange plans to fill in some of the blank spots with LTE-M launches in Belgium, Slovakia, Spain and Poland, though there is still some work to do.

This is the challenge which AT&T faces in the IOT world. It might be one of the largest and most profitable telcos worldwide, but it is largely limited to the US. If you look at other operators, Orange or Vodafone for example, the physical presence around the world is much more notable. This will factor into the thinking of a few multi-national customers.